Whistl starts decarbonising van fleet using Maxus EVs
UK logistics specialist Whistl has begun adding electric vehicles to its fleet to transition its van fleet to electric power. The strategy includes installing charging infrastructure across Whistl’s 22 sites and procuring the electric vans.
Whistl will initially deploy nine Maxus eDeliver vans, four in the Bristol area and five through its Parcelhub brand. The company says this offered a more regionalised approach with onsite local collections and consolidated volumes.
Alistair Cochrane, Whistl CEO, said, “We want to transition our fleet as quickly as possible to non-ICE and are actively trying to find ways to overcome the size and weight restraints of current electric vehicles versus our operational requirements.”
The company will therefore assess the suitability of new EVs entering the market. Their latest fleet renewal included Peugeot Boxer 435 Vans which are on leases so that, says Whistl, they can swap them with electric-powered replacements when they become available.
Whistl, in its statement, gave no details on the selected Maxus eDeliver model. However, the van is familiar in the UK since it launched here first and runs, for example, in service for DPD as reported. It usually offers three battery options 52 kWh, 72 kWh and 88 kWh. The Maxus eDeliver 9 is a 3.5-ton truck.
The SAIC brand also recently presented two new models to enter the UK market by late summer, the Maxus Mifa 9 van and the Maxus T90 EV pickup.
In addition to the van fleet, Whistl actively encourages employees with a company car to choose a fully electric or hybrid option and has installed charging points at its Head Office in Marlow.
The necessary charging infrastructure for the incoming van fleet is being developed with EO Charging.
Whistl expects the infrastructure rollout to be complete this year.
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